Toil in Anonymity

I read today about what seems to be a bit of an injustice, maybe not an injustice, but something with no equivalence. If you follow sports, primarily the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club, you will have heard the news of Jason Blake's cancer diagnosis. While many people are diagnosed with cancer everyday, this one made the news. Jason has a form of leukemia - fortunately (?!) for him it's treatable; usual treatment is just one pill a day, with no chemo or radiation or other horrible treatments necessary. Thanks to the findings of a researcher, this is -if I may say- a tolerable form of cancer.

The story I read about today, was addressing how Jason Blake's diagnosis made major headlines, however so little attention is given to the researchers behind the treatment that Mr. Blake will be receiving. This little 'miracle' drug he will be taking was founded by a researcher that works not too far from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto and makes considerably less than this players salary of $4 million dollars per year. Jason is a well known hockey player, playing for a well known team as part of the most highly acclaimed hockey network in the world. While the researcher (Dr. Pawson) is well known in the researching community, that is where his fame ends.

My appreciation for researchers has been expanded in the last year. You see, I have this amazing friend who has completed her degree in Human Nutrition and will now go on to complete her Masters at McGill University. While attending univ, she has also been working in the lab, playing with the rats, aka researching. My conversations with her are certainly not about proteins and enzymes, because she'll lose me after the first sentence (most times). I have however seen her in action with her peers and this is where my appreciation for her passion reaches a whole new level.

To conclude, I simply want to acknowledge what goes on at the many research labs across the country, they enrich our lives by their hard work, sacrifice and continuous toiling in anonymity.

No Blogging...

Much to my friends or readers dismay I haven't been blogging in the last little while. You see, something, well someone, has been consuming a lot of my time in the last couple weeks. So, I haven't actually got a lot of anything done, I should be: writing a toast for a wedding I'm in in less than 10 days, studying for an exam that I have to write in one month (I'm only in the first chapter of the textbook), exercise and more.

Good news though, I found an interesting story...more blogging to come.

The Team

Listen, yeah, I cheer for the Leafs. You can stop laughing now - when the Leafs do end up in the playoffs and are hoisting Lord Stanley...no,no,no, you won't be laughing then, will you?
I don't really know what started me as a Leafs fan, I guess I really like the city of T.O. and I really like hockey, so it was a natural fit. Plus my younger brother likes hockey and I think he is still with the Leafs, so it's someone to watch the game with when we're actually at the same place on a Saturday night.
This glorious team happened to be in my town for an exhibition game this week and as I don't have a lot of friends who are hockey fans and tickets were pricey for Winnipeg, I didn't go. I did however let the guys in my office know I would be cheering for the Leafs regardless if I was there or not. The Leaf trampling ensued for about the next hour and into the next day. A few comments:
"Lyla are u drunk?"

"You need professional HELP....."

"Clear the track, The leafs belong in a shack"

"Don't bother going to the game b/c I already know what's going to happen..............
1 period. leafs let in 10 goals blame it on the bright lights of the area.
2 period Sundin has a heart attack trying to lift that big bag of money the Leafs are paying him over the boards...he'll be back next season....15% pay raise.
3 period John Ferguson Jr. gives up on the leafs becomes manger for the Charlestown Chiefs. "

"The LEAFS are gay"

"The Leafs will be turning color now to a bright yellow, and fall under the feet of all."

"It's fall - the leafs are wilting already"

Needless to say, I got quite the razzing and I've summed it up to the fact that, they are afraid. very afraid. These guys are on the defense, worried about what the Leafs could do this season. I'd be worried too if I wasn't already a Leafs fan.

They truly are lucky I'm still working after all that or the fact that I could hold it against them and NEVER bring carrot cake into work again, oh, that would be a sad day...
Regardless, it's been a good week at work and I'm grateful for almost rolling out of my chair laughing after being verbally 'checked' over and over.

My Kids

The pic is by no means all the kids, just a few pics that I had around.

So, over the past year or two, I've come to really appreciate other people's kids. I can't imagine being a parent (lets be honest, its a lot of work), and why have your own when there are an abundance of sweet ones around? Between my close friends and family with young kids and babies, I have been blessed in being surrounded by them.

Let me tell you about Jordan, Jordan is 2 years old, we're great friends, she calls me Yiya, she thinks the food off my plate will taste better than her own and there's no better way to have dinner than sitting on my lap (her food or my food). Every time she sees me I get a BIG hug and when her parents give her trouble and I'm in the house, she cries yi-ya in between sobs, believing I will agree her parents never let her do anything and she did nothing to deserve punishment. Her cute round face and blond curly hair are a clever disguise for a very smart little girl full of stubborn will.

Jamin is another friend of mine, he is nearing 3 and is generally passive and quiet except when Jordan is in his personal space. He does not have room in his life for random foolishness and I'm sure he considers reason even before jumping off the kiddie table. He says Why about 300 times a day even when disciplined he follows with the question 'why?'. He truly wants to know and I can't imagine the knowledge he retains in one day.

Then there is Arman (6) and Amman (4). My cousins, who live in ON. I've been out to visit them a few times and these boys both love skin, let it be said. I remember them being younger and loving the booty! It was soo cute. Even now, skin is showing - legs, stomach, Amman is on it. Wearing shorts he would cling to your legs, actually hugging them, or if you were just sitting watching TV, all of a sudden, he'd sneak his little hands under your shirt, onto your belly. I'm laughing as I'm writing this, will he grow out of it soon??... Arman is older now, but Amman still sneaks onto your lap to sit and cuddle, he's rambunctious and care-free at times, then so tender in others, he touches your face with his little hands and soaks up the love and I love it too!

Then Saskatchewan - Taylor, Marissa, Emily, Spencer, Cydney, Selena, Chantelle, Zandria and my nephew Conner. Marissa is 10 I think, smart girl, since she was young she's acted older than she was. She's good with babies, can cook and bake stuff, she's a little mama. Now, we chat online, I help her with homework, it's so great! Taylor and Em are pretty quiet (at least I thought so) Spence makes up for all 4, wild little monkey and says the strangest things! Cydney and Selena have amazing amounts of energy, spunk, spark, I love their spirits, their smiles, I miss those big, big grins.

Then the babies, Zandria, who also is an independent little monkey - don't hold me, let me crawl! Always smiling, except when she's hungry - you can't get the food ready fast enough.

And Baby Conner, the first grandchild for both his grandparents is seeing a lot of love. Still a little baby, eating, sleeping and smiling. Can't wait for him to start chatting, we can have little convosation! let the fun begin!

I have no desire to become a teacher to kids or work in a daycare, those both require discipline and structure, that's not what I like about kids - I like the spontaneity, their free spirits and showing them unconditional love. I want the best for them, but mostly I want them to know they're loved. I like how Mark put it when the children came to Jesus: And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them. Mark 10:16.

Never fear spoiling children by making them too happy. Happiness is the atmosphere in which all good affections grow. - Thomas Bray